Crate



Patented Nov. 20, 197.423.

ERNEST BENSON, 0F 'VALLEY CITY, NORTH DAKOTA.

CRATE.

Application led March 1, 1922*. Serial No. 540,270.

To @ZZ whom t may concern Be it known that l, ERNEST BENSON, al

citizen of the United States, residing at Valley City, in the county of Barnes and State of North Dakota, have invented a new and useful Crate, of which the following is a sl'ieciication. Y

My invention relates to shipping crates of the collapsible type Aand the object is to provide a simple, efficient and durable crate particularly adaptable for shipping fowl, pigs, lambs and any small sized live stock.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top view of my improved crate set up and one end partly opened, some minor parts being omitted.v

Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1 and showing a pig within the crate.

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the crate in its folded condition, the wire netting being omitted.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the crate in partly folded position and showing the near end portion swung up vertically on its hinge.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on line 5-5 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on line 6-6 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is anenlarged detail elevation on line 7-7 in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals. the crate is preferably made in the form of an elongated box, the bottom or floor 8 being made of wood and having cross cleats 9; the top, sides and ends are made of heavy wire netting as illustrated and assembled as follows:

The top comprises a rectangular frame 10 preferably made of pipe over which is stretched the wire netting 1l, the ends of the wire encircling the pipe in any suitable manner so as to hold the netting taut on the frame.

The sides comprise each an upper longitudinal section, of netting, and a similar lower section 12a, both hingedly united by having their adjacent wire ends Vwound around a pipe 13 which is longer than the frame and protrudes from both ends thereof (see Figs. land 2). The upper wire ends of section 12 are secured about the top fra-Ine bar 10 and the lower wire ends of section 12il are secured about a lower frame pipe 14 corresponding to upper frame 10. The frame 14 is secured to the floor section 8 by means of eye bolts 15.

Endwise movement of pipe 13 is prevented by placing a collar -1G on each of them at part 18 however'may be made of round'bar 65 stock andl forming a Ushape the 'ends of which have loops 19 pivotally engagingthe end portions of the top frame 10. The end frames also have wire netting of the same kind as used in the` sides and top. The legs of the end frame 18. are bent to .form loops 1S@ spaced so that they encircle the endsof the corresponding side hinge bars 13 when said end sections are swunginto place (see Figs. 1 land 2) and helping to hold the crate 75 upright and rigid when set up.

On each end section lf provide a strap iron 20 straddling frame 18 and secured by rivets 21 and having opposite loops 22 just outside the frame engaged by hasps 22` 80 adapted to straddle a staple 23 secured in a bar 24 suitably located and secured on side f members 12a (see Fig. 2). Each hasp mayv be held in place (see to the left in Fig. 2) by a Cotter pin 25 secured to a chain 26, the 85 latter having its. opposite end secured to the frame 14. yOr any other suitable locking means may be used.

At a certain distance from each end of thefloor l secure transversely on same, a

strap iron 26a the ends of which are turned up and looped about the lower frame bar 14 (see Figs. 2, 3 and 5). The upright arms are provided each withV an outwardly eX- tending staple 27 on which the hasps 22a en- 95 gage when the crate is folded.

The setting up of the frame is clear in Figs. 1 and 2, the sides being held in vertical relation by the end sections locked thereto and by the pipes 13 engaging in the loops 100 i 13FL of the end sections. Y The protruding ends of the pipes 13 can be used as handles in carrying the crate. In folding up the crate the end sections are first swung out and up (see Fig. 4) and the side sections bent in- 105 wardly and together until the top and sides are practically flat down upon floor 8. Then the end walls are laid back on the top (see Fig. 3) and the hasps 22a can be swung down to engage the staples 27, as previously described, and locked by the cotter pin 25 or other suitable means. The crate is then and held bya 60 ready to be returned to the shipper and occupies a comparatively small space.

Having thus described iny invention what l claimV is: i Y i l. In a Collapsible crate of the class described, a solid floor member, a rectangular trarne secured upon the ioor along its edgesN and inspaced relation to the floor, a top trame corresponding in size to the first mentioned frame, side body members comprising each tivo sections hingedly connected at their adjacent edgesand at theiry oppositey .dges to the topI and bottom frames, end sections pivotally secured to the ends of theA topV frame, means vtor holding the sides and ends in their respective vertical planes when the crate is inrerected position and means Y torV locking the Vcrate in collapsed, folded pogage. saidpintles, when the traine isset up,

and means forV lockingsaid end sections toy the adjacent side sections in vrigid relation thereto. n Y

2. in collapsible shipping crate, atop and bottoni, side sections hinged to the top and bottom sections and having each an intermediate horizontal joint With a pintle rod extending beyond the ends ot the section, end sections: hinged to the top section and having eyes arranged to receive the ends of the pintle rods and thereby hold the side sections in a vertical plane When the end sections are in vertical position, and means for securing the end sections insaid i'eitical or set-up position, said end eXtensions oit the pintle rods being longrenougli to` constitute handles tor carryingthe crate.

ln testimony 'ivhereotl l affix my signature. y

y ERNEST BENSON,

lVitnesses: j Y

EVA M. FLETCHER,

L; N. CoMBs. 

